Strength-testing device.



F. G. JOHNSON.

STRENGTH TESTING DEVICE.

APrLIGATIoN FILED N0v'.7,1913.

' Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

F. G. JOHNSON.

STRENGTH TESTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1913.

1,11 5,826. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

:ullllllll iiiiiiii FRANK G. OI-INSON, OFKKANKAKEE, ILLINOIS.

' K STRENGTH-TESTING DEVICE.

ing Devices, of which the following is a de scription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding numerals of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple and eiective strength-testing device for the use of athletes and others in athletic exercise and especially for testing and indicating the strength of arms and fingers.

To these ends, my invention consists in the combination of elements hereinafter more particularly described and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure lis a central vertical s'ection viewed from one side, of an apparatus embodying the features of my invention.` Fig. 2 is a sectional view in plan taken upon the line 2*2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a section taken upon the line 3 3, Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows there shown. Fig. 4 indicates a section taken upon the line 1- 4, Fig. 3, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 5 is a front elevation, partly in section, taken upon the line 5-5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a front view in detail of ya portion of the upper part of the machine, the covering plate being removed to show a portion of the sliding actuating bar, and movable indieating block. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional View thereof, and Fig. 8 is a side view ofthe lower portion of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, 1, Figs. 1, 2,3, 4 and 8, indicates a metal bracket adapted to bevbolted or otherwise rigidly attached to a wall, post or other vertical support, 2. Said bracket is provided with laterally eX- `tended tongues 3, 3, Figs. 2, 4 and 8, adapted to enter grooves in a casingor sliding mem-y ber 4, which 1s rigidly attached to the yback 5, of the apparatus or machine proper.

` Said bracket is provided with a vertical slo-t 6, which is extended upwardly from near the lower portion to the top thereof for the reception of a clamping screw 7 which is passed through a bore in the part 4, `and adapted to be secured in "any desired posi- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 7, 1913.

place by means of Patented Nov. s, 1914. Serial N0. 799,745.

tion by means of a thumb-nut 8, for the purpose of adjusting the relative height of the main structure to accommodate it to the use of tall or short persons. IvVhen adjusted by means of the mechanism about to Ibe described, the parts may be rigidly clamped together by means of said thumb-nut.

The lower portion of the apparatus is provided with a casing having side-walls 9, through one of which isv projected a shaft 10, having a gear 11, uponits inner adapted to engage a rack 12, `formed upon the bracket 1. attached to the shaft 10, uponthe outside of the casing, and is adapted to be locked in in an engaging position by a spring `15.. A crank 16, Figs. 5 and 8, is rigidly attached to the shaft, upon turning which the casing of the apparatus maybe 'raisedl or lowered to the desired height. v

Rigidly attached `to the back 5, within the casing, is abracket 17, to which is secured a plurality o f relatively long coiled springs 18, and 'in like manner, one or more shorter coiled springs 19. The upper ends of the springs 18 are attached to anelon-y gated head or member 20, upon the forward end of an arm 21, the rear end of which is provided with vertical flanges 22, which are rigidly attached to the lower end of a sliding bar 23, which is fitted to slide in a vertical groove 24, better shown in Figs. 6 and 7, formed in the back of the casing, said bar being held in place by means of overlapping .fianges or strips'25, 26, the latter' of whichk is graduated to forni an indicating scale as shown in Fig. 5, for the purpose hereinafter stated.4 The springs 19 have rods 27, Fig. 5, attachedfto the upper ends ythereof-and extended loosey through 4bores in the 20. Saidgrods extend a predetermined distance above said part, and are provided withy heads 28, also shown in Fig. 2, which `are adapted to be engaged by ,the memberg20 when the latter is raised apredetermined distance.

Attached to the part 2() is a lifting strap 29, which is extended upwardlythrough an opening in a horizontal top member 30,k forming a part of the main casing. Secured around and within said opening is a `fitting 3l, having friction rollers the strap 29 is passed. LThe upper end of said strap is attached to a bail 33, `adapted `to'rest normally against'l the part 31. and

A ratchet-wheel 13 is rigidly a pawl 14, held normallyf end, l

part

32, between which controlled by the action of the ratchet-wheel the beads 28, the springs 19 are brought into 'strength As 'the part 2O is lifted, the bar scale. When the operator releases the handle,

Q, 1,115,826 provided with a handle member 34. Linls the bar is still held in place by the take-up 35, serve to connect the handle 34 with a mechanism, whereupon an attendant grasps like handle 36, at a higher level, while similar but longer links 87 are connected with a handle 38.

A bracket 39 is jointedly attached to the front of the casing which serves as a support for a cushion 40, to serve as an elbowrest for the user. The purpose in placing the handles at dierent heights is to provide for a partial or full arm exercise.

The sliding bar 23, is intended to operate an indicator which preferably consists yof a sliding block 41, Figs. l, 5, 6 and 7, which is loosely fitted within the groove 24 and adapted to be held at any heightto which it may be moved by means of springs 42. stud 48, extending outwardly through a slot as shown and provided with a. knob at its outer end for returning it to a normal position when lifted by the bar 23, serves as a support for an indicating finger 44.

In operating the device, the user grasps one of the handles and lifts it to whatever height he may be able. This action results in raising the bar 29, and in turn, the indicator bloclr 4l. It is desirable however that some means should be provided for preventing a sudden recoil of the springs, and enabling the parts to be returned to a normal position, without shock. This I prefer to accomplish as follows: Journaled in suitable bearings in the casing is a shaft 45, having an operating crank 46. Aratchet-wheel 47 is rigidly attached to said shaft, and adapted to be held against reversal by means of a spring pressed pawl 48. A drum 49 is rigidly secured to the shaft 45, to one portion of which is attached one end of a take-up strap 56, the other end of which is attached to the part 20, in the same manner as is the strap 29. A take-up weight 5l is also suspended from the drum 49 by means of a cord 52, one end of which is attached to the periphery of the drinn. rIhe gravity of said weight is just sufficient to overcome the friction of the parts, and cause the shaft 45 to be rotated when the springs 18 and 19 are expanded by an upward pull upon the strap 29, so that a recoil of the springs will be prevented by the action of the take-up strap 50 and the connecting parts which are the handle 46, throws the pawl 48 out of engagement, and lowers the indicator bar by means of the crank. The indicator block, however, remains in place, and may be restored at will to its normal position by means of the knob thereon.

The reason why I prefer to use a plurality of springs is that it enables me to utilize wire of smaller gage and therefore shorter coils. :This enables the full movement vdesired, preferably about sixteen inches, to be accomplished which would not be practical in the simple way shown, and in the space available, were wire of large gage to be eniployed.

It is desirable that the device should be secured against unwarranted manipulation. This may be accomplished by means of any suitable lock adapted to prevent an upward movement of the bar 2S. For example, in Fig. 5, I have shown a dog 53, pivoted at 54, to the back of the casing. A detent 55 is adapted to engage a notch 56, in the bar 28, while the movement of the lower end of said dog is adapted to be controlled by means of a. screw 57, tapped into a nut 58, which is swiveled in said lower end. The longitudinal movement of said screw is prevented by the head 59, and a washer 60, located upon opposite sides of the wall 9.

Having thus described my invention, claim: t

l. A machine of the character described, comprising a handle in connection with means offering a yielding resistance to the movement thereof, said means comprising primary and secondary yielding resistance for bringing said secondary resistance means into action at a predetermined period in the movement of the handle, talle-up means arranged to move in harmony with vthe yieldapplied to said handle, means for preventing a reverse movement of said take-up means,` an indicator scale and an indicator arranged to indicate thereon the force applied to said handle. y

2. A machine of the character described, comprising a handle in connection with means for offering a yielding resistance to the movement of said handle, said means comprising primary and secondary resistance springs, said primary springs being arranged to resist the movement of said handle throughout the extent of its travel in one direction, means for bringing said secondary springs into action at a predetermined period in said travel, take-up means for arbitrarily holding said springs against reversal, and indicating means for indicating the relative movement of said handle.

8. A. testing vmachine for testing the 47 and pawl 48.

fin upward lift upon either of the handles chosen, serves first to expand the springs 18. `When the part 2O is raised into contact with action, and an additional resistance interposed. This feature is intended to meet the requirements of persons of exceptional the indicator height upon the 23 is raised, thereby moving block 4l to a corresponding ing of said resistance means when force is means, the latter being normally inert, means 'i strength of the arm muscles, comprisin(T a handle, means connected' therewith for o ering a yielding resistance to the movement thereof, take-up means arranged to move in harmony with the movement of said handle when force is applied thereto, means for preventing a reverse movement of said takeup means, an indicator scale, an indicator arranged to indicate thereon the degree of force applied to said handle, a casing for said mechanism, a stationary supporting member for said casing,j and means inter* posed between said casing and said supporting member for adjusting said machine to adapt it to the use of persons of varying height.

4. A machine of the character specified, comprising a handle, yielding resisting means, flexible means for connecting said handle to said resisting means, a shaft having a drum rigidly mounted thereon, flexible means for connecting said resisting means to the periphery of said drum, means for actuating said drum to act as a take-up when said handle is moved in a given direction, a ratchet-wheel rigidly connected with said shaft, a pawl for engaging the same, and means for indicating the relative movement of said handle to indicate the degree of force applied thereto.

5. A machine of the character described,

comprising a handle, yielding resisting means, flexible means for connecting said handle to said resisting means, a shaft having a drum rigidly mounted thereon, flexible means for connecting said resisting means to the periphery of said drum, means for rotathandle, an indicator adapted to be actuated by said bar and an indicating scale in operative proximity to said indicator.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising a handle, yielding resisting means, flexible means for connecting said handle to said resisting means, a shaft having a drum rigidly mounted thereon, flexible means for connecting said resisting means to the periphery of said drum,means for ro-A` tating said drum to act as a take-up when force is applied to said handle to move it in opposition to said resisting means, aratchet,

and pawl for locking said drum against re-y verse movement, a crank upon said shaft, a vertically slidable bar arranged to be moved when force is applied to said handle, a decok taclied movable indicator adapted to bel moved by said bar, frictional means for holding said indicator in a given position when the bar is reversed, and ascale in operative proximity vto said indicator.

c In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification 'in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this rst day of November 1913.

FRANK G. JOHNSON.

vWitnesses: y

DAVID H. FLETCHER, LESLIE W. FRICKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissionerof Patents,

Washington, D. C." 

